Massey Ferguson 231 Where to Add Hydraulic Fluid

oldbeagle

New member

Joined

Aug 6, 2014

Messages

13

Location

Durham, NC

Tractor

Ford 4000 and MF275

Checked the hydraulic fluid, and it's milky from water intrusion. Shifter boots are bad so I will replace them. How do I drain the fill the fluid and clean/replace the filter or strainers? Still trying to convince the bossman to get a shop manual for it...

What fluid does it use? I have two buckets of AW46. Is that ok to use?

jimmyhouser

Gold Member

Joined

Feb 4, 2018

Messages

260

Location

Charleston, SC

Tractor

Massey 1734E, Allis 5030, Case VAC, Ferguson F40

Checked the hydraulic fluid, and it's milky from water intrusion. Shifter boots are bad so I will replace them. How do I drain the fill the fluid and clean/replace the filter or strainers? Still trying to convince the bossman to get a shop manual for it...

What fluid does it use? I have two buckets of AW46. Is that ok to use?

Use premium universal tractor transmission hydraulic fluid. It is rated for gears, bearings, and wet brakes (your tractor has dry brakes). Aw46 is for hydraulics only.

There are 2 drain plugs. One is rear of the bell housing and the other is forward of the rear axle. Wrench size is either 15/16" or 11/16" depending on early or late model.

The strainer cover has 3 bolts holding it on the very bottom. Looks like a rounded triangle. 1/2" bolt heads.

To get it out, remove the safety clip, and use a 9/16" wrench to remove the nut. There is a spring, washer, and o-ring behind the nut. Scrape off the old gasket material and clean the filter cover plate.

Take the old filter to your dealer to match it up. Buy a new one and a gasket. Replace and reverse process to reassemble. Do not overtighten the 9/16 bolt and spring. Let the safety clip do it's job.

Fill hole is a 1&1/16" wrench size next to the gear shifter. Rear end and transmission share the same oil together, so don't worry about filling 2 reservoirs. Usually holds 8-9 +/- gallons. Add 7 and check it accordingly.

Jimmy knows his stuff.

MF calls for Permatran III in the gear case, 8.2 gallons. I use a quality hydraulic tractor oil such as is available at Walmart or TSC. Also, the filter is cleanable and reusable according to MF. Follow Jimmy's instructions for removal and reinstallation.

FYI, the 231 hydraulic steering uses the same oil as the gear case.

A disposable transmission/hydraulic oil filter cartridge is now available for my MF 261 as a replacement for the strainer. There's probably one available for your 231 too.

Last edited: Mar 18, 2020

How do you get that triangle plate off? I have taken the three 1/2" bolts off, but I can't get the plate to budge. I even tried using a crow bar to take it off.

Herman126, my filter cover plate came off without any issue. There is a gasket under the plate. IIRC, I lightly tapped the plate with a hammer and it fell away.

Have you since been successful in removing yours?

Massey Ferguson 231 Where to Add Hydraulic Fluid

Source: https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/threads/mf-231-hydraulic-oil-change.420933/